Reflecting on a Year of Lockdown

 

I was feeling creatively stuck this morning and spent way too long watching YouTube videos without my usual habit of making something along with. At one point I was looking for something in my photo gallery and found myself scrolling through photos of some of the junk journals I’ve made over the last year.

These photos represent a mash up of different books, in no particular order. I collect them here as a reminder to myself of what a creatively rich year I have had and when I’m feeling uninspired I can look to my own work and not feel like I have to reinvent the wheel with every make.

These are all journals that were sent off to an online consignment shop where someone who is not a friend or relative saw them and bought them.

I started making junk journals about 2 years ago when I made a book for my niece who was expecting her first baby.

Within the Junk Journal community and the various Facebook groups I follow, there is frequently the debate that using the term Junk Journal diminishes their artistry. 

I love the term because it allows me the freedom to play and create a hot mess if the journey takes me there.

I used to call my early books “Trainwreck Journals” and still try to go back and revisit the concept splashing ink and paint down throughout a freshly bound book. 

I’ve made over 200 journals in 2 years. That includes everything from mini notebooks to repurposed books to handmade hardcover, multi signature books.

I love collage and mixed media.

I learned how to do Eco-printing

I’m trying to use more fabrics and textiles within the books. What’s ironic here that after a career in costume design and a lifetime of sewing, I struggle with adding fibers and textiles. It feels like too much, too fussy, yet I’ve seen some real beauties out there in Facebook/YouTube land.

...and the most epic of all this past year was getting my iPad Pro and trying to learn Procreate. This crazy owl was a digital experiment resulting from a series of watercolors I created for my niece and baby great-nephews room.

All in all. It was a pretty good year.